January 15th is the 94th anniversary of the Great Molasses Flood. Twenty one people were killed and another 150 injured on Commercial Street in Boston’s North End when a tank of molasses ruptured and exploded on January 15, 1919. Click images for slideshow.
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- The Boston Post front page news coverage (11 dead, 50 hurt) of the Molasses Disaster, January 16, 1919 (Courtesy Boston Public Library)
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- Twisted elevated structure on Atlantic Avenue damaged in Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
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- Wreckage under the elevated where many express trucks parked, Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
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- Panorama of the Molasses Disaster site – Globe Newspaper – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
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![Eleven dead, more than sixty injured, buildings and L tracks wrecked by explosion of big molasses tank [Boston Herald, January 16, 1919] - Courtesy of Boston Public LIbrary](http://i2.wp.com/northendwaterfront.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/4902097496_f15e748c9c_o.jpg?fit=300%2C200)
- Eleven dead, more than sixty injured, buildings and L tracks wrecked by explosion of big molasses tank [Boston Herald, January 16, 1919] – Courtesy of Boston Public LIbrary
![Eleven dead, more than sixty injured, buildings and L tracks wrecked by explosion of big molasses tank [Boston Herald, January 16, 1919] - Courtesy of Boston Public LIbrary](http://i2.wp.com/northendwaterfront.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/4902097496_f15e748c9c_o.jpg)
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- Section of tank after Molasses Disaster explosion. 1:00pm – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
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![Molasses tank explosion injures 50 and kills 11 [Boston Daily Globe, January 16, 1919] Courtesy of Boston Public Library](http://i0.wp.com/northendwaterfront.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/4901511479_88c285b656_o.jpg?fit=300%2C200)
- Molasses tank explosion injures 50 and kills 11 [Boston Daily Globe, January 16, 1919] Courtesy of Boston Public Library
![Molasses tank explosion injures 50 and kills 11 [Boston Daily Globe, January 16, 1919] Courtesy of Boston Public Library](http://i0.wp.com/northendwaterfront.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/4901511479_88c285b656_o.jpg)
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- Tank cut into sections with acetylene torch in search of bodies underneath Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
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- Firemen standing in thick molasses after the disaster; Leslie Jones Copyright (1886-1967 photographer) Courtesy of the Boston Public Library
See more at the Boston Public Library’s Flickr gallery.
A huge wave of the syrupy brown liquid moved down Commercial Street at a speed of 35 mph over two blocks destroying all in its path. In today’s dollars, the property damage is estimated at over $100 million. Purity Distilling Company built the tank, 50 feet high and 90 feet wide, in the densely populated neighborhood of mostly Italian immigrants at the time.
The disaster brought nationwide attention to the lack of industrial safety standards. Complaints of cracks and leaks in the tank were literally covered with brown paint by the company that initially said anarchists blew up the tank. Later, a lengthy class action lawsuit brought forward damaging evidence resulting in a settlement of $600,000 (~$11 million in today’s dollars). Although Purity used the molasses for industrial alcohol, some hypothesize that the tank was overfilled because of the the prohibition threat for possible use later to distill rum. Neighborhood folklore has it that you can smell the ill-sweet remains in the summer’s hottest weather. (Sources: Wikipedia, Mass Moments, Wired)
![Molasses tank explosion injures 50 and kills 11 [Boston Daily Globe, January 16, 1919] Courtesy of Boston Public Library](http://i0.wp.com/northendwaterfront.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/4901511479_88c285b656_o.jpg?resize=120%2C120)
I highly recommend Stephen Puleo’s “Dark Tide.” The depth of this tragedy and its aftermath are pretty stunning.
I have the book and I am looking forward to reading it!